TStael: I suffered from it greatly. It might have made me more resilient - yet fouk that, I just wanted to be my intrinsic, idealistic, normal and soft self. No questions asked, just me.
And seemingly a bit non-normative. But that should be a non-issue.
But also I saw a peer suffer from it even worse - this boy actually was only bit of good at school, and he was bullied thence, and saw no way out, but to cater his bullies with answers to homework.
Yet when it came to facebook canvassing for the class reunion - THIS very same man was the one to do it.
I said no, because it was a class reunion of bullies - yet can understand my peer sufferer. Only I wish he felt he had the choice.
But more profoundly - think of it. Have you been bullied? Or not?
If yes - the challenge is to make your subsequent behavior just the best, and the most stubborn. You. Not them.
If not - just ... ... .... You see?
I just lost one of my jobs because a couple of homophobic asshats refused to work with me. They gave the company a phony excuse for refusing to work with me and I was the one that got his hours cut back to zero.
So, yes, it definitely happens and being an adult doesn't mean that it stops.